Differences Between Family & Families

Family and Families are terms that are often mistakenly considered to be the same. However, there is a subtle difference between the two words. Family is the singular form, while ‘families’ is the plural form. The term ‘family’ refers to a group of people who belong to the same household, including members such as father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, and so on.

Key Takeaways

• Family is the singular form, while Families is the plural form.
• Family refers to a group of individuals living in the same household.
• Families denotes groups of people from two or more households.

The word ‘families’ refers to groups of people from two or more households. By using the term ‘families,’ it is understood that members from two or more different households are being discussed. For example, consider the two sentences below:

1. The family of Joshua is a large one.
2. Tony and James hail from noble families.

In the first sentence, the family of Joshua is described as a large one, comprising individual members of the same household, such as his father, mother, sister, grandparents, and so on. In the second sentence, Tony and James’ families are two separate groups of members from different households, both described as noble in character.

In other words, Tony and James’ families may be small and large, respectively, and they may live in different places. Conversely, an individual family resides in the same place or town. Families may live in different cities or towns but still share common relationships. Therefore, although different and separate, families can demonstrate common interests and preferences, as well as differences in their likes and dislikes.